Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Banned Book Week!Hi all! So as you may know, this week is honoring banned books!Now a lot of my favorite books are or have been banned. I once saw a quote that went something like “All banned books are obviously worth the read”. SO TRUE! (Well maybe not all of them...)

So today I’m going to simply make a list of some of my favorite banned books! :D I feel like such a rebel right now >_<Warning, some of these are real shockers! these were either banned in the US, out of the US, or in schools1. Harry Potter Series2. Fahrenheit 4513. The Giver4. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass5. The Hunger Games6. Bridge to Terabithia 7. Holes8. The Giving Tree (Shel Silverstein) & A light in the Attic9. The Da Vinci Code10. Looking for Alaska11. Of Mice and Men12. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory13. City of Bones14. The Great Gatsby15. Dragons of Autumn Twilight16. Percy Jackson and the Olympians 17. The Fault in our Stars(Thanks goodreads for having a list!!) Yeah... I had no idea most of these were banned! What banned books did you love? Let me know! :D

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Top Ten Books to Read if you Loved ~Throne of Glass~ Hey all! Welcome to a new Top Ten Tuesday, brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish! Top Ten Tuesday (aka TTT) is a weekly blogger meme where you write lists of your top ten (insert topic here)!

This week’s theme is the top 10 books I would recommend to those who loved a popular book/author. So I took this and made it Top Ten Books you should read if you loved Throne of Glass! It’s cool, it’s popular, and almost everyone’s heard about it! So let’s get started, shall we? Now, people like books for different reasons - some like the love triangles, others like the action, or even the royalty, the villains, or just the story line. The books I chose for this vary IMMENSELY! I mean usually they wouldn’t even be all on the same list together! But I have reasons for each, you don’t have to agree :) Also, these are in no particular order!

1. Eragon, by Christopher Paolini

~Back cover blurb~

~oops it’s in french~

~goodreads blurb~

"One boy. One dragon. A world of adventure.When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.”

I’m linking these two stories just because they both take place in epic worlds that both should blend to make a huge world of amazingness! *-*

2. An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir

~Back cover blurb~

“Under the martial empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear. It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from the rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier - and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined - and that their choices will change the fate of the empire itself”

This book fits well with Throne of Glass because of the Military Academy, as well as the harshness of the Emperor. Honestly I’m not sure how to explain it further than that. Just trust me when I say that they go well together, and this book deserves its spot on the list :)

3. City of Bones (aka, the whole Mortal Instrument series), by Cassandra Clare

~Back Cover blurb~

“When Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder. Much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered in odd markings. This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons - and keeping the odd werewolves and vampires and line. It’s also her first meeting with gorgeous, golden-haired Jace. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in an ordinary mundane like Clary? And how did she suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know..."

I want to re-live these books for the first time again!

I think this series works very well with Throne of Glass. First, I can’t help but compare Runes and Wyrdmarks. Second, demons. Third, demon-hunting. Plus the action scenes in this series are just amazing!

4. Graceling (also the whole series), by Kristin Cashore

~Back Cover blurb~

“In a world where people born with an exceptional skill, known as a Grace, are both feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing.

Feared by the court and shunned by those her own age, the darkness of her Grace casts a heavy shadow over Katsa’s life. Yet she remains defiant: when the King of Lienid’s father is kidnapped she investigates, and stumbles across a mystery. Who would want to kidnap the old man, and why? And who was the extraordinary Graced man whose fighting abilities rivaled her own?

The only think Katsa is sure if is that she no longer wants to kill. The intrigue around this kidnapping offers her a way out - but little does she realize, when she takes it, that something insidious and dark lurks behind the mystery. Somethng spreading from the shadowy figure of a one-eyed king...”

If I had to pair two books in the world, it would be Throne of Glass and Graceling. Graceling is one of my favorite series. I think the reason behind the pairing is fairly obvious when reading the blurb - they are both gifted killers in a magical world with palace intrigue and mysteries! Now go read it ;)

5. Stravaganza, City of Masks, by Mary Hoffman

~Back cover blurb~

“One moment, Lucien is in this world, the next moment he is transported to sixteenth-century Talia, a parallel-world country that is aways with deception, intrigue, treachery and glamour, all thrillingly spiced with danger. In a spine-tingling and dramatic revelation, Lucien discovers that he is in fact a Stravagante - somebody who, with the help of a talisman, can transport himself in time and place. But that is not all - in Talia it appears that Lucien alone can save the city of Bellezza from disaster...”

Not enough people know about this series in my opinion. It’s so amazing and unique! *-*

I’m matching this book with Throne of Glass because they are actually pretty similar on a broad scale. There’s assassins, palace intrigue, deception and treachery. It’s probably one of my favorite MG/YA series!

6. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

~Back cover blurb~

“In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love”

Hands up if you wish you could discover this series for the first time again!! *shoots hand up to the sky*

This one is more relatable to Throne of Glass through it’s action. It has all kinds of weapons and fighting and struggle and it’s just amazing!!

7. The Selection, by Kiera Cass

~Back cover blurb~

“For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. I means turning back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her, and leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she beings to realize that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined”

More royalty, more competitions, but another point that relates it to Throne of Glass is the love triangle, in my opinion *cough team Maxon cough*. However, it is still very different. But to me, for some reason, it makes sense to mention them together :)

8. Cinder, by Marissa Meyer

~Back cover blurb~

"Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl...

Sixteen-year-old Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past and is reviled by her stepmother. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyal and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the world’s future. Because there is something unusual about Cinder, something that others would kill for."

Hmm this one’s another more subtle choice. What made me choose this is Cinder’s uniqueness, much like Celaena’s uniqueness. They are totally different. In fact they are so different that it makes them unique, which the two books revolve around in a really interesting way! (Please let me know if I’m not making any sense XD )

9. Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard

~Back cover blurb~

“Mare Barrow’s world is divided by blood - those with red and those with silver. Mare and her family are lowly Reds, destined to serve the Silver elite whose supernatural abilities make them nearly gods. Mare steals what she can to help her family survive, but when her best friend is conscripted into the army, she gambles everything to win his freedom. A twist of fate leads her to the royal palace itself, where, in front of the king and all his nobles, she discovers a power of her own - an ability she didn’t know she had.

Except... her blood is Red.

To hide this impossibility, the king forces her into the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his owns sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks her new position to aid the Scarlet Guard - the leaders of a Red rebellion. Her actions put into motion a deadly and violent dance, pitting prince against prince and Mare against her own heart."

For me this was an obvious choice - castles, royalty, unique magic.. but also fights and competitions to see who’s the better magic-user... It’s really worth the read! I like to think that Mare and Celaena are distant cousins or something :)

So yep I have 9 this week - what book would you add to the list? Let me know! :)

Monday, September 28, 2015

Hey all!I just finished The Last of the Firedrakes, by Farah Oomerbhoy! I received a copy from the publishers at Netgalley. This does not influence my opinions in any way. (Thanks Wise Ink Creative Publishing!) The Last of the Firedrakes is about Aurora, a girl who hates her adoptive family, who doesn’t feel like she fits in, and who feels invisible in everyday life. Then, one day, her adoptive uncle announces that they will spend a weekend in his boss’s castle. Through her castle searches, Aurora gets kidnapped through a portal to another world - a world of Fae and mages, of magic and royalty. It turns out that she is the one who will inherit the kingdom of Illiador, and has a special type of magic of her own. But, before she can do anything about the complicated political conflicts in the land, she must master her magic and learn about this new world, Avalonia. Although this took me a while to read (mostly due to being incredibly busy with school and co.), I really enjoyed this book! I always love books that center around fairy tales and magic! This book had many elements of classic fairytales blended together to make a new, beautiful story. One aspect I really loved, and that I talk about a lot, is the characters. They were so well written! Aurora is a strong protagonist. (Definitely a Gryffindor, I couldn’t help but think that during the book!) She is brave and has absolutely amazing powers. She always fights for what’s right and best. She is presented as bookish from time to time, but it doesn’t take over every few chapters, which I appreciated! She’s also super determined. Rafe, or the Black Wolf, is absolutely amazing! He’s the super mysterious good guy that everyone loves (except for the royalty in the novel... hmm...) He is super charming and is willing to help at all costs. And, what’s more, I TOTALLY ship him and Aurora! What I’d be interested in, though is reading a few chapters or paragraphs from his point of view. I think that could bring another dimension to the book/series that could be beneficial to the development of both the characters and the world. Kalen is also awesome. He’s the good friend everyone needs. He’s so sweet and attentive :) For Aurora, he’s almost like a big brother, which I think is exactly what she needs. The antagonist, Damien (a true Slytherin, if I may say) is pure nasty. He might look good, but that’s all the goodness he has. However, I’m kind of hoping that in the end he might have a change of heart? I dunno, I just can totally see that happening! The world is absolutely amazing and huge! Reading this, you travel through markets, forests, the sky, castles, schools, villages, towns, and more! I would love to see pictoral representations of the places, it’s gotta be amazing! *-* I can really see this book turn into a movie/mini series! I would watch it, anyway :) My main problem with the book is the obvious good/bad line. I think that the distinction between the two could have been blurred a bit, with some more shady characters. Maybe that’s coming up in book two? Can’t wait to find out! Also, I think Aurora took the whole situation a bit too well, with just a little shock. I would have been a lot more surprised, I think! I’m giving this book a 4/5 feathers :)

Have you read The Last of the Firedrakes? What did you think about it?

Also, what would you do if you suddenly found out that you were a queen with magical powers and huge responsibilities?

Friday, September 25, 2015

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me. Everyone wins!

Also, you can follow me via GFC, email, Google+, Facebook, or goodreads! Let me know how you follow me, and I'll make sure to follow you back!

Question: If you could have any job, what would it be?

Unlike a lot of book bloggers who would love to be bookshop owners or something along that line, my job would be somewhat different. In the future I really want to work in a lab, mixing geoscience, chemistry and sustainability to find solutions to environmental problems, maybe with some hydrology mixed with that. It’s a new field called “Green Geochemistry”, I believe. What do you want to be later on? :) Have a nice day!!

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Percy Jackson and the Olympians read-along! Hey all!As you probably saw from my ‘coming soon’ post, we have a read-along coming soon! And now I feel like we can finally officially announce it! The Lightening Thief has been published for an amazing 10 years (geez I feel old), and the new series, Magnus Chase, is coming out in the beginning of October!

Rick Riodran has been one of my favorite authors since I was in middle school, and this series is super close to me, as it was the first series that really got me into reading. I mean sure I read a lot before, but something clicked when I read these! I’ve read every series by Rick Riordan, but this one is, and probably always will be, my favorite. <3 So the amazing Erika @ Books, stars, writing, and everything in between are organizing a read-along! Starting the 4th of October, we will be reading The Lightening Thief, and proceed through the series with one book per week! This will include Myth Wednesdays, where we will each talk about a god/monster/hero from greek mythology, and a tag at the end of the read-along! After reading each book, we will review it separately and discuss it a bit. Make sure to comment your opinions of each book at the end of the week! Let us know if you want to join! I can’t wait to get started :) Have a nice day!

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten books on my Fall TBR!Hey! Welcome to a new Top Ten Tuesday, brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish! Top Ten Tuesday (aka TTT) is a weekly blogger meme!

This week’s theme is the top 10 books on my Fall TBR! Now I don’t keep a strict TBR list, so these may vary quite a bit throughout the season ^-^ 1. Library of Souls, by Ransom RiggsSo happy I got it!!! :D It looks so nice! Definitely my next book! 2. Angelfall, by Susan EeThis has been on my TBR for ages, I just need to get to it...3. Not if I See You First, by Eric Lindstrom An ARC about a blind girl in high school. Sounds super interesting, many thanks to the publishers!4. Illuminae, by Amie KaufmanHehehe no surprise here!5. The Rest of Us Just Live Here, by Patrick NessAs above ^-^ 6. Across the Universe, by Beth RivesFor some reason I really associate sci-fi with autumn/winter, not so much spring/summer... not sure why. But I’m looking forward to reading this! 7. Seraphina, by Rachel HartmanDragons and magic and awesomeness :) 8. Let’s Get Lost, by Adi Alsaid I really need to get to this one, even though it’s more of a summer read 9. The Martian, by Andy Weir Again, sci-fi works with the winter/fall. Plus it looks like a cool read! 10. Return Once More, by Trisha LeighAnother ARC that’s considered both New and Young Adult, about a girl in a society that can time travel! BONUSPercy Jackson and the Olympians Series (We’re doing a read-along!) Join in on our read-along! :D We’ll be doing discussions, greek myths, tags, etc... :) That’s it! :D What’s your most anticipated read for this Fall?

Monday, September 21, 2015

Harry Potter Spells Book Tag! Hey all! I found this fun tag I could try out! :D I love Harry Potter, and I love reading, so why not do something that blends both? This tag takes different spells and makes you link them to books! So let’s get started!

Expelliarmus - Disarming Spell

A book that took you by surprise

For this I’m going to go with The Sirens of Falkeld, by Julie Tuovi. It was my first ARC, and my first mermaid book, and I loved it! I had no idea what to expect, and I really enjoyed it, it was an amazing read! :)

Expecto
Patronum - Protection Spell

A book that brings back happy childhood memories

SO MANY BOOKS TO CHOOSE FROM! I want to say Le Petit Prince, by Antoine de Saint Exupery. (In French, in English it’s The Little Prince). I just remember reading it with my mom and enjoying the sheep scene so much! “S’il te plait, desine-moi un mouton...” is probably one of my favorite quotes from that book! Otherwise, I loved the Little Critter series! Those, I liked reading with my dad! :)

Prior
Incantarto - Previous Spell

The last book you read

Saint Anything, by Sarah Dessen. Make sure to check my review!

Alohomora - Unlocking Spell

A book that introduced you to a genre you would have not considered before

Generic answer, it looks like, but I gotta say The Fault in our Stars, by John Green, which opened me up to contemporary! I’m glad it did, too! Its still not my fave genre but I will enjoy a good contemporary now and then :)

Ridiculous - Funny Spell

A funny book you read

Ummm I could go with the Percy Jackson series, those had me laughing so much!

By the way, make sure to join our Percy Jackson and the Olympians read-along in October! :)

Sonorous - Sound Spell

A book you think everyone should know about

I think more people should know about The Secret Fire, by C.J Daughurty. This book has a real potential for becoming hyped once more books in the series come out!

Obliviate - Memory Spell

A book you wish you never read

Honestly, reading Digital Fortress, by Dan Brown felt like a waste of time /: I usually LOVE Dan Brown’s books, but I just couldn’t get into this one at all, and I even DNFed it 20 pages from the end... I know I know, pathetic, I could have continued. But I didn’t want to... Meh

Imperio - Control Curse

A book you had to read for school

In school, a few books that I enjoyed included The Great Gatsby, and, Around the World in 80 Days. They were just really interesting reads! :D

Crucio - Torture Curse

A book that was painful to read

Life and Times of Michael K, by J. M. Coetzee (sorry English teacher!) I did NOT like this. When I read it, it felt super repetitive, and it felt like it was going absolutely nowhere. I just wasn’t interested in K’s story... Will not read again. But if you’re into classics, by all means, go right ahead!

Avada
Kedavra - Death Curse

A book that could kill

*cough*Allegiant*cough*

Do I need to explain myself? (Even if I do, it can’t be without spoilers!)

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Hey all! I’ve been incredibly busy for the past few days, and will be for the next week and a bit. I’m currently reading The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy, and, although I’ve been enjoying it a lot, it’ll take me a while to finish it just because of everything going on (my birthday yesterday, midterms, event planning, house/cat sitting, projects and essays). BUT I’m not planning on not posting anymore! I’ll still do TTT, of course! :D Also, I’m still willing to do tags and such :) These are fairly quick to do and I can do them between essay topics ^-^. I’m not asking to be tagged by anyone anywhere. Actually, every time I get tagged, it still feels so strange! However, I would like to know this: what kind of posts would you like to see in the next few weeks? Any specific tags you did a long time ago that I should try out? Themed posts? Lists? Other miscellaneous things? I’d love to write a post, I just won’t write a book review for a while because I’ve barely had the time to read more than 2 or 3 chapters a day :/ So yeah let me know! :D Any input would be awesome! Have an awesome weekend!

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

I was recently tagged by Megan and Cat from over at Books of Fascination to do this tag! Thanks so much guys, that’s so sweet! :) Make sure to check out their awesome blog!

So, this is NOT the same Rainbow Book tag that I did earlier in the year (which I failed at miserably, by the way ^-^). This is fresh and new and all things great!

The concept is very simple, making a rainbow - a colorful piece of art - out of books :)

The rules are as follows:

1. The books you use for creating the rainbow must be your own!

2. If the books you choose are hardcover, you can use it with or without the cover slip on.

3. Colors can be a wide variety-be creative! Just keep the color order of the rainbow in mind!

4. There isn't a specific number of books you can have. Go nuts!

5. Display your book rainbow proudly on the post.

6. Tag whomever! Spread the love

Okidokey let’s do it then!

Here’s my book rainbow!

Sorry for the low lighting / quality!

The books included are:

An Abundance of Katherines, Catching Fire, Eldest, Fire, Voyage au Centre de la Terre (Journey to the center of the earth), The Amazing days of Abby Hayes, The prophet of Yonwood, City of Fallen Angels, The Martian, Madison Finn, The Boxcar Children, I am Number Four, The Fire Eternal, I Am the Messenger, The diamond of Darkhold, Messenger, The Hobbit, Insurgent, The Lightening Thief, I Coriander, The Selection, The Iron King, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Fault In our Stars, Exodus, Angelfall, Mirror Dreams, Seraphina, Will Grayson Will Grayson, Holes.

Basically I tried making a rainbow shape with the different piles... I dunno the rules said to go crazy XD

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday - your choice! Hey! Welcome to a new Top Ten Tuesday, brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish! Top Ten Tuesday (aka TTT) is a weekly blogger meme! This week, the choice is up to me! :D So, I chose to go with... My top 10 book covers! So lets get started! :) These are not in any particular order. Also, I have more than 10 I’d like to mention, but these are my faves! 1. Throne of Glass series, by Sarah J. Maas

2. The Power of 6, by Pittacus Lore (plus the bubbles are 3D on the cover!)

3. The Peculiar Children series, by Ransom Riggs (Just too cool! :D )

4. Magonia, by Maria Dhavana Headley (I would actually love this design as a print for my room! *-*)

5. Across the Universe, by Beth Revis (Galaxy? Way cool!)

6. Let’s Get Lost, by Adi Alsaid

7. The Giver quartet, by Lois Lowry

8. The Graceling triology, by Kristen Cashore

9. Looking for Alaska, by John Green (I actually love all of his covers, they’re so simple but pretty!)

10. Jane Austen Collection (CC publisher)

I would also add The Iron King, Wings, Siberia, Eon, Wicked Lovely, the Hunger Games, and The Selection

Let me know what covers you have on your shelf that you absolutely love! :D Have a nice day! ^-^

Sunday, September 13, 2015

This be my shelf! (You’ll notice that a lot of series don’t have all the same layout/size/publishing, which is annoying but whatever I don’t mind too much :’) Except for some series...)

This basically has some of my classic (LOTR, Narnia, Jane Austen) as well as some other ones (that tiny black one on the left is Fantastic Beasts). Aaand half of my dictionaries, cus I used to take way too many languages in school =p

More series! My super-uneven Mortal Instruments collection (ugh book 4 and 6!!), Wings, Stravaganza, and Graceling! Aaaand there’s Wonderous strange and Ballad there as well. The purple one is my older Kindle :)

These are more elementary school / middle grade books, as well as a few of my favorites and a few classics!

My world records, my ‘ology collection, some non-fiction, and yearbooks. The rainbow in the middle? My favorite series as a kid :) Its a french series about a girl (Caroline) who lives with a bunch of animals who are her friends! (they were nice and I don’t want to get rid of them!)

More almanacs, dictionaries, and randomness! Also my craft box I’ve had forever!

Some series that I’ve just started buying! Red Queen, The Bartimaeus Triology, Throne of Glass, Peculiar Children, and a bunch of others :) I really need to get the next ones of these!

On this one I have a bunch of random hardback books, a bunch of random paperbacks. And then there’s my Giver Quartet and all my John Green books! (minus Paper Towns that a friend is now reading ^-^ )

Maximum Ride (and other James Patterson books), The Hunger Games, and all the rest are by Rick Riordan (I’m really bugged by The Last Olympian being hardbacked instead of paperback...)

More random paperbacks, with some beginnings of series, and a bunch of french middle-grade books! :)

Kids’ fairy tales, some non-fiction, and lots of Disney! :D

And finally, the famous ‘blah’ shelf! Basically, papers, binders, folders, notebooks, and other random stuff x)